Eyeing exports, Centre vows value addition to seafood

The Centre on Monday vowed to enhance the proportion of value addition to Indian seafood with an eye on export markets.

The decision was taken at a meeting Union Minister of Fisheries Rajiv Ranjan Singh held with top seafood exporters here today.

Singh said value addition was key to enhanced export potential and highlighted the steps India was taking to expand its blue economy.

He assured stakeholders of the government’s commitment to further strengthening Indian seafood exports.

Secretary Fisheries Abhilaksh Likhi highlighted that only about 10% of India’s seafood exports by value were currently value-added products and stressed the need to raise this share to 30–60% in line with global benchmarks.

He said this can be done through enhanced domestic production or import-and-re-export strategies. Likhi expressed concern over the heavy dependence on a single species, Whiteleg shrimp.